Assembly machine and method



V. OLDBERG ASSEMBLY MACHINE AND METHOD May 9, 1933.

Fiied June 27, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 ATTORNEYS.

May 9, 1933 v. OLDBERG 1,907,656

ASSEMBLY MACHINE AND METHOD Filed June 27', 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTO R N EY Patented May 9, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE VIRGIL OLDBERG, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR TO OLDBERG MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, A CORPORATION OF MIGEIGAN I ASSEMBLY MACHINE AND METHOD Application filed June 27,

. The invention of this application relates toa machine and method for assembling parts. The invention is disclosed in connection with an elongated muffler shell upon which are to be assembled, in spaced relation, a plurality of annular diaphragms.

In my copending application, Serial No. 613,440, filed May 25, 1932 (#4016), I disclose an elongated, sheet metal, shell having a plurality of closely spaced outwardly extruded, minute perforations covering the entire area of the shell, the shell being provided with a plurality of axially spaced diaphragms in the nature of annular members,

each of the diaphragms being more accurately a frusto-conical, sheet metal part, having cylindrical flanges projecting axially from both the large and small ends of the frustum of the cone. The present invention has, for its principal objects, a novel machine and a novel method for assembling a plurality of these annuli in predetermined spaced relation upon the shell.

Still another object of the invention is to provide novel parts for use in assembling annuli 'upon an elongated member.

Still further objects of the invention will appear upon reference to the following detailed description of the same and upon reference to the appended drawings, in which- Figure 1 shows an assembly machine of the invention, with a mufiler shown therein, in assembled state;

Fig; 2 is a section asif on the line 2-2 of Figure 1;

-Fig. 3 is a section as if on the line 33 of Figure 2;

' Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary view of a muffler shell and an associated annulus;

Fig. 5 shows a machine of the invention with parts about to be assembled'shown in place; r Y

Fig'- 6 shows amufiler shell per se for use with a machine and method of'the ,invention;

1982. Serial No. 619,504.

Fig. 7 showsan assembly of a muffler shell and spaced annuli, forminga product of the machine and method of the invention.

The 'worlc Referring to the drawings, it will be observed that the elongated member or muffler shell upon which the annuli are to be assembled in predetermined spaced relation comprises an elongated tube 10 of sheet meta1 provided with a large number of closely spaced, minute, outwardly extruded perforations 11 covering substantially the entire area of the shell. The assembly includes the mufiier shell '10 and a plurality of annuli 12 which are in the nature of frusto-conical, sheet metal members, having cylindrical flanges 14 and 15 projecting axially and away from the frusto-conical portions of the members, substantially as indicated. A as plurality of the members 12- are provided, as many as desired, and while in the drawings the assembly is shown as bein provided with but two of'these, it will 0% course be understood that many more may well be provided and the present invention contemplates the. assembly of as large a numher of these members as desired. Further these members are securely fixed to the shell by the method of the invention and are se- 7 pured thereon in predetermined. spaced reation.

rigid and so aperture 26 and a relatively wide 'slot 27 connecting the aperture 26 with the edge of the plate, to provide an exit way for the assembled mufller shell, as will later be described.

Adapted to be placed in the central apertures 26 are filler pieces 28 having central, frusto-conical apertures or seats 29 in which may be seated the frustoconical members 12. It will be observed at this time that forany machine there are provided a large number of these fillet-pieces having differently sized and shaped central apertures, corresponding to the various sizes and shapes of the cones which are to be assembled in the machine, the filler pieces being selected for the particular size and shape of the cones. Further, each filler piece 26 has a slot 31 of the same size as the slots 27 of the plates, these slots cooperating when aligned, to define an exit way for the assembled mnfller shell. Further each plate has, on the side thereof opposite its slot 27, an orienting bar 32 held securely thereon by bolts 33, which bar has a flat surface adapted to cooperate with a fiat surface 34 of the filler pieces, to orient the latter with respect to the plate so that the slots 31 and 27 will be in accurate alignment.

Another set of filler pieces 36, are provided, and each of these, instead of having a central aperture and seat 29 and a slot 31, is in the nature of blank filler pieces, that is to say, it is a solid filler adapted to plug the aperture of the plates 22, for purposes to be described.

The parts so far mentioned comprise the stationary members of the machine and are set up for a particular job and thereafter not moved.

The movable part of the machine is in the nature of a ram 40 mounted on the end of a piston rod 41 reciprocable in a cylinder 42, the ram being movable along the axis of they aligned filler piece apertures 29 substantially as indicated. For moving the ram along such axis back and forth, any power means may be used and a conventional compressed air or fluid pressure, power means is indicated by the pipes 43 to be controlled by a valve 44.

' It will be understood at this time that means other than the pneumatic or fluid pressure power means mightbe used with attendant results.

T he method described with reference'to the machine disclosed. When the machine is set up for a particular assembly one of the plates 22 will be provided with a blank filler piece 36. Others of the plates will be provided with filler pieces 28 selected for the particular assem bly desired, all of the plates being spaced v along the posts 21 in accordance with the desired spacing of the cones on the mufiler shell so set up the machine is ready for use.

The first step is to have the ram 40 in its most elevated position, substantially as shown in Figure 5. After the ram is elevated or while it is being elevated, cones are placed and seated in the filler pieces 28, these cones readily finding their proper positions in these filler pieces due to the fact that the apertures or seats 29 are designed to fit the cones being used. The plates 22 at this time support and space the cones in accordance with the desired spacing.

The operator then, while the ram is elevated, places a muffler shell in the machine VVlth'itS end adjacent the uppermost one of the filler pieces 28 and with its axis in line with the axis of the filler pieces. It will'be observed that it is not necessary for the operator to hold the mufiier shell in place, for

its own weight, coupled with the fact that it finds its seat in the uppermost one of the cones already placed in the machine, serves to hold the shell in place without assistance.

The operator then mani ulates the valve 44 to cause the ram 40 to e lowered. The ram engages the upper end of the muflier shell and slowly forces the mufller downwardly through the various filler pieces until the lower end of the mufiier shell engages and is stopped by the blank filler piece 36. At this time the operator manipulates the valve 44 to stop advance movement of ram 40 and to return the ram to its elevatedv position. All that remains then for the operator is to remove the assembly of the muflier shell and the cones, which he does by raising the assembly'slightly in the machine, so that the cones are clear of the filler pieces and then sliding the assembly transversely out of the machine, with the mufiier shell passing through the aligned slots 31 and 27.

Broadly the method may be described as including the steps of forcing a muflier shell or other elongated member through a plurality of suitably spaced and supported annuli along the longitudinal axis of the elongated member and along the longitudinal axis of the aligned annuli, and removing the assembly from the assembly device or machine trans-vercely of such axes.

' It will be observed at this time that the eX- trusions of the perforations 11 on the muffler shell cooperate with the flanges 14 in a manner which assists in creating a satisfactory securement between the mufiler shell and the cones. The flanges 14, being of sheet metal and being attached to the frusto-conical parts of the members 12, are more or less pli able and as the mufiier shell is forced through the cones the flanges 14 give slightly to permit passage of the muffler shell and then contract to effect what amounts to a press fit at the flanges 14;. This feature is of particular importance in connection with sheet metal work, where manufacturing inaccuracies and tolerances might otherwise prevent the use of the method disclosed.

It will further be observed that while the cones are securely fastened to the muffler shell by the method of the invention, such securemcnt may be enhanced and preferably is enhanced for muffler use, by welding the cones to the shell after the cones are assembled with respect to the same. The assembly of the invention makes the task-of welding the cones to the shell much easier since the assembly may be brought to and manipulated in the welding machine without fear of rela ve movement between the cones and the shell.

Now having described the invention and embodiments thereof, it will be observed that the same is not to be limited to the specific details shown, but only by the scope of the claim which follows.

\Vhat I claim is The method of assembling spaced sheet metal plates having axially alined holes on an elongated hollow sheet metal cylindrical member, which comprises forming resilient axially extending edge flanges continuously around the'axially alined holes. forming resilient outward projections on the member,

and pressing the member, through the holes of the plates, with the flanges engaging the projections so that their mutual resiliency will cooperate in maintaining the plates and the member in assembly.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature. VIRGIL OLDBERG. 

